Real Capone

There are legendary people in American history who can be instantly identified solely by their surname: Lincoln, Lindbergh, Twain...Capone. At the mention of Al Capone's name, people have an immediate image flash in their brains of the ultimate gangster, the godfather--so to speak--of organized crime, the stylish, ruthless criminal who epitomizes the roar of the 1920's.
A quick list of thoughts soon follows: mastermind behind the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, bootleg king, psychopath who beat his enemy's head in with a baseball bat. Wait, that was only in a movie. Of all the "facts" we know about Al Capone, how many are true?

This fall, that question will finally be answered. The book Uncle Al Capone will be out and it's likely to cause some controversy. For decades, endless gangster "experts", criminologists, and even psychologists have told us the story of Al Capone until it's so familiar it's almost part of our consciousness. But, something entirely different in Capone lore is about to happen. Uncle Al Capone is written by Deirdre Marie Capone, great-niece of Al Capone and granddaughter of his older brother, Ralph Capone (aka Public Enemy #3). As Deirdre frankly says, "No book about Al Capone to date was ever written by someone who actually saw him, heard him, smelled him, and was a member of his family who saw things from the inside. No one else can write this story." So true. Think about it.

And the story is mesmerizing. While today the name "Capone" has a ring of cool to it, it was a horrific burden for Deirdre Capone for most of her life. Imagine parents letting their young children go over to Deirdre Marie Capone's for a playdate. Didn't happen. Nor did she get invited to parties held by other children. It must have been a supremely confusing, lonely, and painful childhood. After all, she had done nothing wrong, yet was cast out by her name. It didn't get better. To survive, she began going by her father's middle name as her surname. She was now Deirdre Gabriel. Yet, working dutifully at her first job, she was called into her boss's office only to be asked her real name. In spite of her excellent job performance, the name Capone led to her immediate dismissal.

Yet, with all this, there were moments of great joy in her childhood, most of them stemming from the warm embrace of the Capone family members. To the country, he was Public Enemy #1. To Deirdre, he was her Uncle Al who would play with her on the floor like a big teddy bear, laughingly wear an apron while making spaghetti sauce, and would even teach her how to play the mandolin. During the Depression, he set up a huge soup kitchen in Chicago, feeding thousands of hungry people. He would generously help a stranger without expecting a thing in return.

Deirdre Marie Capone has no intention of whitewashing her family's history. She does not shy away from discussing the dark side of her legacy. But, perhaps for the first time, the public will see the world of the Capones in honest balance. Deirdre is, in fact, the only person alive who can tell the real story and she has admirably taken on the challenge. And now, all we have to do is wait.

*For a sneak peak at Uncle Al Capone, send a friend request on Facebook to Deirdre Marie Capone. You'll then be able to access the first chapter...fascinating read!